The People of TLC's Big Medicine

Dr Garth Davis has committed his professional career to partnering with his father to fight the obesity epidemic in the Houston area. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine, graduating with high honors.

Dr. Davis completed his surgical residency at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Dr. Davis has had extensive training in laparoscopic surgery, specializing in bariatric surgery and now performs laparoscopic adjustable banding.

Dr Robert Davis has been performing weight loss surgery for more than 20 years at The Methodist Hospital. He believes obesity is a disease and is dedicated to helping patients overcome their obesity.

Dr. Davis attended the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine; deputy chief of the department of surgery at The Methodist Hospital; Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons; and member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Mary Jo Rapini M.Ed, LPC, completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Denver, with a double major in Psychology and Theology. She received the Hornsbeck Scholarship award from the University of Denver and moved to Houston to complete her graduate degree in psychology at the University of Houston.

Mary Jo is a firm believer in the value of diet, exercise and faith. Her faith was strengthened by her near death experience of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm in 2003, from which she had a miraculous recovery.

Mary Jo has a diverse practice in psychotherapy including bariatric counseling, sex/intimacy counseling and self empowerment, and belongs to numerous organizations.

Stephen A. Morris, MA, MS, LPC is a master’s level therapist with two masters degrees in counseling and marriage/family therapy. His principle theoretical orientation for positive change centers on the cognitive-behavioral approach. Stephen believes that positive and desired change can be accomplished by changing one’s cognitions, thoughts and beliefs.

His clinical expertise includes: weight loss/management; children/adolescent psychosocial issues; educational issues/school problems; bereavement/loss issues; foster-adoptive family issues; eating disorders; and self-esteem development/issues. Stephen is a doctoral student in the field of psychology at Capella's Harold Able School of Psychology. Back to top of page

Deborah Lindeen, MA, LPC, ATR-BC is currently affiliated part-time with The Methodist Hospital, where she provides support and evaluation to bariatric patients. In addition to her work with disordered eating and bariatric support, Deborah is bilingual in Spanish and conducts workshops and retreats locally and internationally for corporations, churches, and other groups.

Deborah has a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Pastoral Counseling from Houston Graduate School of Theology. She is also a graduate of the University of Houston-Clear Lake Art Therapy program, which required 40 post-graduate hours.

Jennifer A. Naples, MS, RD, LD, CDE is a Clinical Dietitian at The Methodist Hospital and Bariatric Specialist for the Methodist Weight Management Center.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from The University of Texas at San Antonio and Master of Science in Nutrition from the University of the Incarnate Word. Jennifer specializes in bariatrics and diabetes patient education, and is actively involved with bariatric surgery patients. 

Jennifer holds a Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management from the American Dietetic Association Commission on Dietetic Registration and is an Associate member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Stephanie Barrocas, RD, LD, is a registered dietitian who assesses and treats the nutritional needs of pre and post-operative bariatric patients. Stephanie received her degree in Nutrition from the University of Central Arkansas and completed her dietetic internship at Touro Hospital in New Orleans, LA.

She has worked with bariatric patients for six years, focusing on pre-operative counseling (for insurance-required nutrition programs) and post-operative follow up care through clinics and support group education. Stephanie also has experience with Medical Nutrition Therapy in the diabetic, renal and cardiac population. Back to top of page

Zola Lander, BSN, RN, CAPA, treats and assesses pre and post-operative bariatric patients at the Methodist Weight Management Center. She graduated from Stavanger American School in Norway, where she lived for three years.

Zola moved back to Texas and enrolled in Texas Woman’s University where she graduated with her BSN. She started her nursing career at The Methodist Hospital and has worked in several different areas including Emergency Department, PACU (Recovery Room), and Pre-op. She received her certification in Ambulatory Peri-Anesthesia Nursing (CAPA) in 2005.

Terri Corbett, RN, CGRN, received her Associates Degree in Nursing from College of the Mainland. She is also a Certified Gastroenterology Nurse, certified by the Certifying Board of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc. (CBGNA). Terri has a wide range of nursing experience including Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine, Digestive Diseases and Weight Management. 

Terri has personal knowledge of the weight loss experience, and she provides a personal touch to the care of patients at the Weight Management Center. Terri understands the personal struggles involved with weight loss, and celebrates every patient’s success. Back to top of page